Production of parabolic mirrors and construction of the concept of 2nd degree polynomial function

One of the biggest obstacles to learn physics in High School is, according teachers’ account, their mathematical approach. In this paper we propose an activity that integrates Physics and Math contents, in order to make quadratic function significant for the students. We report the activities planned and implemented in the classroom, with High School 1st year students in a public school located within the RS. The activities referred to the production of parabolic mirrors in two different models, followed by the construction of the concept of 2nd degree polynomial (the so called quadratic function). Therefore, we used both the classroom space and students’ home space, allowing experience learning during the period that lasted the activity. We work under a constructivist methodology. We conclude that such activities class, called hands-on, can really bring significance to the concepts usually covered abstractly in textbooks.

据教师反馈，高中物理学习的最大阻碍之一，在于其教学所采用的数学方法路径。本文提出一项融合物理与数学内容的教学活动，旨在让二次函数（quadratic function）对学生具备实际意义。本研究汇报了在南里奥格兰德州（RS）某公立学校高一年级课堂中规划并实施的该类教学活动。活动以制作两种不同模型的抛物面镜为核心环节，随后引导学生建构二次多项式（2nd degree polynomial，即所谓的二次函数）的概念。本次活动同时利用了课堂场景与学生的家庭场景，在活动开展周期内为学生提供了体验式学习的契机。本研究遵循建构主义教学方法论开展实践，最终结论表明，此类被称为动手实践（hands-on）的教学活动，确实能够为教科书中通常以抽象方式呈现的物理概念赋予具象的实际意义。